Sony DRU-500a

**Theinfamousone** · February 9th, 2003, 08:40 PM

I got a Sony DRU-500a a couple weeks back. I have been very happy with it, as everyone knows it is the first (and I believe the only) drive that writes on all 4 DVD formats and also CD-R/W. Before I was using an old 8x CD burner that came with my computer (made by Gateway). I've found that the compatibility of this new burner isn't as good as my old one. The CDs don't play in some CD players. Everything is the same as before as far as OS, disc brand and ASPI. I am using Windows XP.

Is it the ASPI that's screwed up? The drive, the discs, or what is the most likely probelm?

**DainBramaged** · February 12th, 2003, 12:18 AM

DVD burners are still farily new, and as standards progress, so does hardware capability. I'd try looking for a firmware/BIOS upgrade for it first. After that, ASPI layers. Lastly, program compatability.

**nasrules** · March 1st, 2003, 12:39 PM

Originally posted by zebi
At what speed do you burn, i've had cd players who couldn't read discs written at 20x or higher.

cool i dint no that, adds another reason to not having a 48x burner, along with the discs shattering and bits flying into you :-)

**Theinfamousone** · March 1st, 2003, 11:17 PM

I have burned them at 4x-8x-12x-24x and none of them have ever worked on certain CD players. I think it's because I have the cheapest possible CDs. They are called SpinX. If I got TDK I'd probably fix my problem, and it looks like I'll have to if I want the same compatibility of my old burner. It really depends on the sensitivity of the dye on the CD. The ones that are rated at 48x shouldn't have compatibility problems when burned at 24x.

**Theinfamousone** · March 2nd, 2003, 01:36 AM

Yes, it played with my 2 year old 8x CD burner, but not CDs from my new DVD/CD burner (which is counter logic if you ask me)and matter of fact, this CD player is only a couple months old (got it for Christmas) and specifically says that it can play CD-R/W and even mp3 CDs if I'm not mistaken. Yet my $79 RCA (el cheapo as it gets) CD Changer that I bought 5 years ago plays them like a charm.

**endersgame21** · March 2nd, 2003, 01:46 AM

I was thinking about getting a dvd burner but I think I will just wait. One of the problems was I didn't know what format to get because somebody told me that only 1 format will be supported later on. The Sony DRU-500a is nice because it supports all formats but I still think I will wait a couple of months for Blu-ray Discs to come out.

**Theinfamousone** · March 2nd, 2003, 11:05 PM

Originally posted by endersgame21
I was thinking about getting a dvd burner but I think I will just wait. One of the problems was I didn't know what format to get because somebody told me that only 1 format will be supported later on. The Sony DRU-500a is nice because it supports all formats but I still think I will wait a couple of months for Blu-ray Discs to come out.

Blu-Ray. Yeah, I considered that. But when I think about it, I bet they are going to be very expensive and when they finally come down to less than $400 which is the only time I'd even dream of getting one, I'll probably be 10 years older, and by then P2P will probably be dead. Just kidding. Hopefully nothing happens to P2P. But seriously, I was really excited when my friend bought a CD burner in 2000(seems like forever ago) and it was $300 or something, I don't think he regretted getting it when DVD burners came out because it has served him well for 3 years. I am really skeptical as to whether Blu-Ray will even become standard for anything except for data storage. It's gonna be hard to break DVD's grip on videos, just like DVDs haven't dethroned CDs as pretty much the only medium for music. And just how as easy as it is to burn CDs, most people still use floppy disks for text.:wings

EDIT: I failed to mention that having a DVD burner is like night and day. I have put thousands of videos on .60 cent DVD-Rs and will save them for a future generation to watch. I have all of my very important application on a DVD+RW, it's like a warm blanket. No one can do anything seriously bad to my computer short of coming to my house and beating it with a golf club (you'd actually be surprised how often that's almost happened). If anything goes wrong, pop in the XP CD, restart, install, reload applications, start downloading again. The fact that you can put home movies on DVDs, and copy DVDs is a nice little plus too. Mainly I download TV shows from Kazaa and save them though. For $300, I think it's already paid for itself.

Mr. Mainstream · March 2nd, 2003, 11:46 PM

ill stick good ol' CD-R 750mb that enuff

**Theinfamousone** · March 3rd, 2003, 03:17 PM

They have 750MB CDs? Are you banned Mainstream, or are you just playing around?

Mr. Mainstream · March 3rd, 2003, 07:36 PM

yes we have 750mb pritty standard and the banned name is a just a joke

**Theinfamousone** · March 3rd, 2003, 11:03 PM

I know I have the newest firmware, but how do I check/upgrade to the BIOS? How do I upgrade the ASPI layer?

**endersgame21** · March 3rd, 2003, 11:44 PM

Blu-Ray. Yeah, I considered that. But when I think about it, I bet they are going to be very expensive and when they finally come down to less than $400 which is the only time I'd even dream of getting one, I'll probably be 10 years older, and by then P2P will probably be dead. Just kidding. Hopefully nothing happens to P2P. But seriously, I was really excited when my friend bought a CD burner in 2000(seems like forever ago) and it was $300 or something, I don't think he regretted getting it when DVD burners came out because it has served him well for 3 years. I am really skeptical as to whether Blu-Ray will even become standard for anything except for data storage. It's gonna be hard to break DVD's grip on videos, just like DVDs haven't dethroned CDs as pretty much the only medium for music. And just how as easy as it is to burn CDs, most people still use floppy disks for text.

Actually Blu-Ray will replace DVD's because you can easily record anything on to it. It is like VHS except for it is in the form of a disc and it holds a lot more info. People still use VCR's to record their favorite TV shows and now they will be able to do that with Blu-Ray discs. The reason DVD's didn't replace CD's is because CD's can currently burn a lot faster and CD players don't play DVD's. All DVD players will already be able to play Blu-Ray Discs so there won't be much of a switch. They just won't be able to record anything on to Blu-Ray Discs. For that feature you will need to buy a new player. Also, Blu-Ray discs can old up to 110 gigs so you can put a lot more movies on that then just on a 4.7 gig DVD.

**endersgame21** · March 3rd, 2003, 11:49 PM

They have 750MB CDs?

Yea, that is all we have over hear in the U.S. Every once in a while you might find a 700MB CD. What do they have where you live?

Mr. Mainstream · March 4th, 2003, 12:16 AM

Originally posted by endersgame21
Yea, that is all we have over hear in the U.S. Every once in a while you might find a 700MB CD. What do they have where you live?

u can get 99min cd i can prove that if you really want. u can get 700meg discs in bulk cheap as potty watter :fire :hole :fire